Mark Lowes Raceday Report Thursday 10th July 2014

EROS RETURNS IN STYLE

Local "champ" Soho Eros returned home to Tamworth on Thursday July 10 after a brief but unsuccessful Sydney campaign to show his liking for the 750m Showground circuit with an impresseive victory in the TAB Pace 1980m. Starting from inside the second row, the 6yo gelding was taken three wide from around 1000m out by driver Peter Missen and powered away to beat a strong field by 6 1/4m in an excellent rate of 1.59.9 on a bitterly cold and windy winters day. The $6.60 chance had failed to flatter in the "big smoke" against stiffer opposition for Kerryann Turner and appreciated his return to "bush" class for part/owner & trainer Tony Missen. Soho Eros (Artscape-Nightn Georgia) now has a 5pt lead over stablemate My Red Ruby in the Peter & Di McNamara Photography Horse of the Year which he won last season and earned Peter The Pub Drive of the Day Award for his efforts. It was a difficult week for the Missen brothers as older brother Dave had passed away.

Ex-Kiwi 4yo Artsu (Elsu-Holly Holmes) maintained her unbeaten status at Tamworth with an easy 11m victory in a rate of 2.01.7 in the Easters Landscape Supplies Pace 1980m. The $1.70 favourite had to work hard to lead from gate three but once in front the stylish mare had little trouble to make it 5 from 5 locally. Qld reinsman Ricky Thurlow, filling in for the suspended Dean Chapple, who trains the R6/C0 pacer at Moonbi, was full of praise for her efforts and predicted a bright future. Thurlow had not driven at Tamworth since winning the 2012 Prydes EasiFeed Golden Guitar with Tiger Island
thanks to a brilliant display, that was rewarded with The Pub Drive of
the Year for Tamworth's 2011/12 season.

Gunnedah trainer/driver Sally Torrens produced 2yo Tirunesh (Art Major-Simply Suri) first up after a 3 month layoff to take out the Winter Sponsorship Packages Available Pace 1609m. The filly trailed the leader, then 3 pegs before sitting in the "death" from the bell and then toughed out a 2 1/2m win in 2.02.1. It was the big filly's first win from 6 starts and capped off a great training performance by the capable horsewoman. Torrens has shown her versalility this season by venturing into the thoroughbred world as well. Since gaining her gallopers trainer's licence earlier this year she has had 6 wins, 4 with Subtract and 1 each with Estada and Romanticise (her only 3 stable runners to date).

The TAB Rewards Pace produced an overdue win for popular local junior trainer/driver Sam Ison who squeezed through a gap at the  top of the straight to score on Miami Vice (Armbro Operative-Miami Falcon). The 5yo family owned mare had been runner-up four times this season with younger brother Ben in the cart, however, he piloted stablemate Pipers Challenge to a close up fourth.

Veteran Tamworth trainer Ian Mabbott continued his great form this season when 3yo Ride On A Rainbow (Modern Art-Wings Of A Rainbow) broke through for his maiden win at his 11th start in the Sauers Glass Pace 1609m. Driven a "heady" race by Dubbo's Nathan Carroll, the well supported $4.70 shot raced three wide for the last lap to score by 2m in 2.02.4.

The Hunter Valley combination of trainer Cameron Davies and driver Josh Osborn made the journey north worthwhile with a winning double. After working three wide to lead from barrier 6, Manoflisa Modern Art-Lisa Leslie) scooted away to win by 6m in The Pub Group Pace 1980m. The heavily backed $1.40 favourite is owned by Inverell's Col Hobday and his daughter Julie. Owner Col Hobday was back in the winner's circle when Modern Edition (Modern Art-My Poplar Girl) stormed home wide out, off a three wide trail, to record a 4m win in the Wests Entertainment Group Pace 1609m. Both pacers have been excellent buys for the Hobdays with ex-Sydneysider Manoflisa 2 wins and ex-Victorian Modern Edition 7 wins.

Muswellbrook hobby trainer Steven Humphries made a winning return to Tamworth when Irish Priest (Flight N Irish-Danas Daughter) led throughout in the TAB App.Pace 1609m. The 6yo gelding had not won for 18 months and had a few issues since resuming, but looked good in recording a 5 1/2 m win in 2.02.7 with Jamie Bond in the "spider".

Tamworth race again Thursday July 24 with a Heat of the KS Black & Co. Competitive Stakes Gold Series ($8000 Final at Tamworth, August 7).

Mark Lowe